Caring For Your New Tattoo Design
Now that you3?ve spent a lot of time, soul-searching, cash
and many nerves on getting your special tattoo design needled
and inked onto your skin, you need to be able to take care of
it as it
heals. Usually, new tattoo designs need at least 30
days to completely heal. Hopefully, you chose a tattoo
parlor that uses clean needles, or infection is a distinct
possibility. Many professional tattoo parlors are proud
to show off their sterilization equipment. Dying from a
new tattoo is practically unheard of in these modern
times. Tattoo parlors are not regulated by the federal
government, but are subject to both sate laws and their own
professions strict self-regulation.
Owie. Stingy.
A new tattoo design on your skin will hurt. This is
normal. Everyone has a different threshold tolerance for
pain, but you don't need to be completely stoic throughout the
healing process. The worst stage is usually the first
week. In that time, your new tattoo design will be very
sore (duh), the skin will look swollen and may turn red.
The new tattoo design might look distorted during this part of
the healing process. It'll settle back to normal once the
healing process is well under way.
During this time, you can wash your new tattooed area with
soap and water. A mild, baby or an antibacterial soap is
best. You're aiming to use as plain a soap as
possible. Any heavily scented or moisturizing soap may
have chemicals which will irritate your new tattoo even
further. Gently PAT dry (not scrub) with a clean cloth or
paper towel. After a wash, spread a thin layer of
antibacterial ointment on the new tattoo. You should wash
the new tattoo design at least 4 times a day.
Getting There
In the later healing stages, your new tattoo design will
suddenly become very dry. The natural skin moisturizers
just aren't there. You can use plain creams or lotions to
ease the severe dryness and chapping. Again, you don't
want to use any cream or lotion with heavy perfumes in them, as
they can contain chemicals which may make your skin
worse. There are commercial products available on tattoo
specialty websites such as Tattoo Johnny that sells healing
lotions.
You also want to protect your new tattoo design from getting
too much sun as it heals. Too much sun can not only burn
your skin, but can dry out the new tattoo too much and cause
scarring which will, in the least, distort the tattoo's
design.
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